Name: Jack Arnold
Age: 66
Occupation/background: Teacher, former small business owner (Sheritt Ridge Farm).
Why are you running for public office?
For over 40 years I have worked and lived in Nanaimo (except for a period when I ran my apple orchard and poultry farm business in Nanoose Bay, while I taught and coached in Nanaimo.) Since 1969, I have grown up with and worked with three generations of people in Nanaimo.. Many of my former students are now my friends, colleagues, and associates. I have had a great life here and now would like to give something major back to the community. I ran in 2006 and very nearly made council at my first attempt. Nanaimo for me is a wonderful place to be. It is a destination that I want all to know about and a place to be celebrated.
What three priorities are important to you and how do you plan to tackle these issues, if elected?
For me, priority one is providing an open and approachable council to the people of Nanaimo. This means consultation and consensus on items of major public concern. It means providing accountability, fiscal responsibility decisions for the taxpayers. The Colliery dams are a major issue which needs to be clarified in my mind. The balance between a danger to people who homes lie in the area and the preservation of green space should have much more open and consultation with the stakeholders by council. We need to find a way to bring more industrial, technical, and high-tech environmentally aware business capable of paying good incomes to our city. This would mean that we could stop the exodus of our present citizens and youth to other areas to find suitable employment. There are many ways that can be investigated such as tours, promotional trips and a sound marketing scheme to achieve this end. My other major concern is to reduce our waste and recycle system even more. That means a greater emphasis on both public and private sectors to come together and find a collaborative beneficial middle ground where we achieve our imprint goal.
How do you plan to manage taxes and spending?
There needs to be more accountability from all concerned. As in any business or bureaucracy, there is a constant need to be introspective and critical of how and why money is spent. The projects we undertake must be self-sufficient wherever possible. There needs to be transparency so that at all times the public knows that council is acting in a 'justifiable to the taxpaying stakeholders' manner.
What do you think it takes to lead Nanaimo? Describe your leadership or co-working style.
I feel that to lead in Nanaimo requires a dedication to the people and the place. I do not think it beneficial to have a partisan political position in civic politics. I think it requires people who are dedicated, and willing to listen, reflect and evaluate all of the evidence and positions without any personal bias. A consensus and a final decision should be bsed on fiscal responsibility and appropriateness to the needs of the stakeholders. I have had experience working for 45 years in a system where accountability to the stakeholders comes first. Many times one follows he consensus and makes personal changes for the good of those in the system. I have learned the importance in the need for transparency, full investigation and finally decision making. I have been on negotiating teams and have taken both the lead and the follower role as needed for each situation. I am truly a non-partisan candidate, I am running self-funded campaign without any major sponsorship and I know I can represent all groups responsibly in the city without fear of bias.